FIRST TIME SCUBA DIVING IN PHUKET

Salam 

ENGLISH VERSION

Actually I am looking forward to my first scuba diving experience, however I always wonder if I get claustrophobic phobia or nervous when underwater. I have been tried a lot of things in life but I don't like to be in closed or small space or under water where less oxygen… but we would not know until we tried it right! This is one of my 100 dreams that I really wanted to fulfill. #Rahsia100Impian #R100I

From Wikipedia

Claustrophobia is the fear of having no escape and being in closed or small space or room It is typically classified as an anxiety disorder and often results in panic attack, and can be the result of many situations or stimuli, including elevators crowded to capacity, windowless rooms, and even tight-necked clothing. The onset of claustrophobia has been attributed to many factors, including a reduction in the size of the amygdala, classical conditioning, or a genetic predisposition to fear small spaces.

Day-by-day, the dream is getting stronger and inspiring to see the creation of Allah in the underwater world. Thus, we set the target and register ourselves for Scuba Course in Scuba Diving Phuket PADI 5Star Dive Centre, Phuket Thailand. It is cost about ThB 1500 per person. (MYR1600). The best part of the offer, money back guarantee if we decided to cancel our trips even within 24 hours before.

We booked our flight ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket via Malaysia Airlines (MAS) cost us about MYR350 per person. (Early booking guarantees good price). We stayed at Amata Hotel, Patong 4 Star and cost us about USD17/day booking via Agoda.com. Again, early booking and non-peaks session will ensure good discounted price.

DAY-1

At 9.00 am our pick up arrived at the hotel to take us to Super Dive Centre. We were introduced to Mr Michael Clark known as Mike. He is our instructor for the next 3 days.  The program is started with Theory Class via Video session, Quiz and final exam for Professional Association of Diving Instructor (PADI) certification.

All of us passed the the theoretical exam with flying colour and my wife got 90% passing marks … ha ha ha ... 

Then we were brought to PADI Dive Centre equipped with swimming pool of 4 meter deep for practical training. Before we start the practical training, we need to undergo 2 more practical tests – swimming for 300 meter with foot fins and floating for 10 minutes. Alhamdulillah both of us get thru the practical tests.  I admired at my wife as she managed to get thru this test because only recently she learned how to swim and floating.

In Practical training, Mr Mike teaches us the foundation knowledge and skills as scuba diver. We were introduced with the dive equipment e.g. Buoyancy Control Device BCD, Mask Snorkeling, Fin, Scuba Tank, Regulator, Computer Clock and others. For the safely reasons, we also learned how to install our own equipment and check our buddy too. We practiced clearing our masks, equalizer (popping our ears), switching/ replacing our regulators with buddy and buoyancy. 

During the practise I noticed that I kept on holding my masks gear and felt the water is go into my nose. Mr Mike advised,“I see nothing wrong with your gear. It’s all in your mind! Trust your equipment and breathing slowly” . One thing for sure, breathing underwater does not feel natural and little freaky though!

We spent near 2 hours in pool for practising.  Mr Mike was so patient and motivates us to trust ourselves and remove the fears!

With all this practices, it’s really improved our level of confidence and I felt like I have eliminated my phobia. Ahamdulillah.. Anyway the pool is only 4 meter deep and you can see the surface in case of any panic-attack but tomorrow we were told that the deep is 12 – 18 meter…..  err can I?

DAY-2 AND DAY-3

On the day of dive, we woke up a bit early, took our breakfast (a bit light) and wait at the hotel’s lobby for pick-up. We went to the other side of Phuket for boat rides to Racha Noi & Yai. It is taken about 30 minutes to reach the boat areas and 2 hours for Racha Noi Island.

During the boat ride, our instructor Mr Mike gave us briefing then we need to check our own and buddy equipment. Whatever we practised yesterday is now being tested. The boat siren sound loudly which means we are 10 minutes to destinations. Gear up guys!

One by one divers jumped into the ocean and we are the last persons to do so. Honestly, I do not know what to expect and little scary.  We start with practicing “Tired divers technique” for few meters towards shallow water. Then we slowly descending further and further into another world – underwater world. It was amazing! I keep smiling in heart and amaze with the scenery that I am experiencing. Masyallah... no words shall describe what we seen! 

Even in the deep sea, Mr Mike keeps showing his confident and motivates face to us that we can do! We did not notice that we have descending down to 12 meter deep and 45 minutes underwater. We so amaze with the uniqueness of the underwater creatures. The water was so clear up to 20 meter view and the reef was so beautiful. It was just stunning!

After our first dive, we had lunch and debrief by Mr Mike. We discussed what we do wrong and how to improve our skills. For every subsequent dive, we are tested our skills to qualified the PADI requirements.

After 2 – 3 dives, we start feeling confortable and get use to move around with less fear. Our confident are high, we can’t wait for the next dive. It was truly amazing! We also got chance for some fun-dive near Racha Noi.

We are so pleased that we choose Scuba Diving Phuket for our first experience diving. Special thanks to Mr Mike that are patience enough train us and ensure our safety thru out the course.  We also learned that diver are family!

It was an amazing experience that we will never forgot. Diving is close to flying! Indeed we feel that we are flying in deep blue sea.

Wassalam

SirNoordin Khalid

Racha Noi